Beach Archive

Rip currents can prove deadly for beachgoers. According to the National Weather Service’s 2023 surf zone fatalities list (Jan. 1 to June 24), Florida leads the way with 27 fatalities, only two of which were non-rip current related. In nearby Bay County, Panama City Beach had seven drownings from June 15 to June 24. All of which were related to rip currents.

The Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office (TDO) released the results of a community survey, which ended June 1. The survey asked for public input concerning possible future amenities and projects for the Navarre and Navarre Beach areas. Approximately 1,695 people answered the survey. There was a list of seven Navarre Beach amenities people were told to rank from top priority to lowest priority.

The Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club is hooked on Navarre Beach; the Louisiana-based group will host its first Offshore Mania tournament this weekend, Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25, from the Sea Oats Pavilion.

While the Navarre Beach Lifeguards keep tourists and locals safe at the beach this summer, a new generation is being trained to follow in their footsteps. The Navarre Beach Junior Lifeguard program, which is entering its third year, helps strengthen children and teens’ swimming and water related skills, while also teaching them about waterways, marine life and other things about the Gulf of Mexico.

The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) will launch their free, open-air trolley service along Pensacola Beach this Memorial Day weekend, beginning Friday, May 26.

The 2023 Pensacola Beach Island Trolley, operated by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), will run daily from 4 p.m. to midnight through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 4.

The trolleys help alleviate traffic congestion by allowing visitors to park anywhere and have a convenient way to tour the whole island.

Erosion caused by Hurricane Sally in 2020 has complicated Santa Rosa County’s beach renourishment schedule.

Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District is no stranger to assisting other fire departments or districts when they are in need. In December, Navarre Beach Fire gave Munson Volunteer Fire Department some of their thermal imaging equipment and NBFRD always assists Holley Navarre Fire District and Midway Fire District on calls. On Monday, April 17, Navarre Beach Fire was able to help an out-of-state volunteer fire department get a vehicle they could have never afforded on their own.

A longtime Navarre Beach concert series is facing an unlikely future. During the Tourist Development Council’s recent budget workshop, the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce did not submit a sponsorship request for the Tunes by the Dunes concert series for the upcoming fiscal year.

Ground recently broke on a new expansion to Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.  According to Cathy Holmes, the founder of NBSTCC, the expansion will help continue the center’s mission of educating the public about sea turtle conservation, as well as helping facilitate the work done by the NBSTCC Sea Turtle Rescue Team.

Navarre Beach saw its first sea turtle rescue of the 2023 season. More sea turtles come to the waters and beaches around Navarre during nesting season, which typically runs from April or May to October each year.